Even if the people of Scotland vote against independence, all of the mainstream political parties have promised Holyrood greater powers and responsibilities. If the nation avoids separation, this could still precipitate a constitutional conundrum south of the border as England – led by its core cities – asks "What about us?" The upcoming conference season will be a good time for politicians to offer some answers.

IPPR North has long argued that greater English devolution can both unlock national economic prosperity and drive a new wave of public service reform. It rests on three key planks.

First, the chancellor, George Osborne, must come good on his promise to make northern infrastructure investment the centrepiece of his autumn statement. Northern leaders have overcome past divisions to bring forward a coherent plan for investment which, at £15bn, is still way short of the amount we are investing in London, but this now needs urgent appraisal, investment and action.

Following this, we need a decade of genuine devolution, starting with the big cities but reaching out elsewhere as and when new combined authorities (including county-district arrangements) can be formed. Those ready to act now should not be held back by those with less appetite or capacity for change.

This decentralisation decade must start with key economic development powers over skills and employment support, transport, housing, innovation and inward investment, but it should also provide for much greater local control over health and social care, education, policing and crime.

This will involve making sure that the proceeds of growth and the savings made through tackling social issues stay in the areas in which they are made – the devolution of business rates and other local taxes, underpinned by a more transparent national safety net, and greater freedom for councils to borrow to invest must underpin any decentralisation of responsibilities. Administrative and fiscal devolution must go hand in hand.

And thirdly, as we look over the horizon, English local government deserves the same kind of constitutional status afforded to Scottish and Welsh governments to really engender culture change at the centre.

By 2020 we need to see a proper constitutional settlement for England giving local government the kind of autonomy afforded in almost every other mature European democracy.

And the quid pro quo? Although there is growing support for city power, this must be matched by local, and particularly combined, authorities doing more to open up their governance and accountability. If most city leaders outside London reject the directly elected mayor model, then it is beholden on them to come up with better alternatives. The status quo is not an option.

The IPPR North thinktank will publish a new report, Decentralisation Decade, on 12 September.